Adaptor for spark plug wires to distributor cap

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed to a two part adaptor to be interposed between a spark plug wire and its associated distributor cap socket and so constructed as to include visual or geometric indicia to enable the parts of one adaptor to be readily differentiated from those of another adaptor when a plurality of such adaptors are installed on the same distributor cap.

United States Patent [191 Santangelio 1 Oct. 15, 1974 1 1 ADAPTOR FOR SPARK PLUG WIRES TO DISTRIBUTOR CAP [76] Inventor: Carmine A. Santangelo, 85 Ann St.,

Apt. 2B, Staten Island, NY. 10302 [22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 345,282

[52] US. Cl. 339/26, 339/60 R, 339/94 R, 339/113 R, 339/213 S, 339/218 S [51] int. C1 H10lr 13/54 [58] Field of Search 339/26, 94, 154, 213, 42, 339/113, 48, 49 B, 214, 218,153, 60, 61, 75

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,458,520 6/1923 Castell 70/363 X 1,927,267 9/1933 James 339/26 X 2,337,800 12/1943 Cassen 339/94 C Lundy 339/113 R 2,442,858 6/1948 Nims ct 111.. 3.39/26 X 2,934,668 4/1960 Dall 339/26 R X 3,002,126 9/1961 Noir 1 1 339/26 X 3,050,658 8/1962 Lay ct a1 339/26 X 3,307,374 3/1967 Kirshbaum r 63/15 3,683,315 8/1972 Kelly 339/42 Primary Examiner-R0y D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Terrell P. Lewis [57] ABSTRACT This invention is directed to a two part adaptor to be interposed between a spark plug wire and its associated distributor cap socket and so constructed as to include visual or geometric indicia to enable the parts of one adaptor to be readily differentiated from those of another adaptor when a plurality of such adaptors are installed on the same distributor cap.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures ELECTRIC CONTACT ADAPTOR FOR SPARK PLUG WIRES TO DISTRIBUTOR CAP THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in ignition wiring harnesses for internal combustion engines and particularly seeks to provide novel means for connecting the individual spark plug wires to a distributor cap in such a manner that they easily can be reconnected in their predetermined proper orientation after being disconnected therefrom.

It is well known that since the rotor of a distributor makes contact with successive cap electrodes during each revolution, it is necessary for each spark plug wire to have one end connected to the distributor cap and its other end connected to a predetermined spark plug in order that the consecutive contacts at the distributor may be translated into a predetermined firing order of the spark plugs. Obviously, if one or more spark plug wires are connected to the wrong terminals of the distributor the firing order of the engine cylinders will be disrupted and a misfiring or even an inoperative condition of the engine will result.

Initially, the ignition wiring frequently is prefabricated as a harness with the wires precut to individual lengths, but with enough slack to permit easy installation, and is installed by a skilled mechanic who is completely familiar with the firing order of the engine involved so that there is no difficulty in connecting each spark plug wire to the proper distributor terminal.

However, when the time comes for any type of servicing of the distributor that requires disconnection of the spark plug wires, it frequently happens that the mechanic (or car owner in the case of do-it-yourself repairs) is not sufficiently familiar with the firing order to be able to reconnect the spark plug wires in proper senovel connector or adaptor for the distributor cap of the ignition system of an internal combustion engine that includes either or both visual or mechanical means to clearly indicate and effect the proper firing order sequence of connections between the spark wires and the terminal sockets of the distributor cap.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adaptor of the character stated that is of two part construction including a lower part of retention in a distributor cap terminal socket and an upper part adapted for permanent connection to one end of a spark plug wire and for removable connection with the lower part.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adaptor of the character stated in which the lower and upper parts of each adaptor are provided with a set of externally visible matching indicia as a guide to determine the proper selection of a spark plug wire for connection with its proper distributor cap terminal.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adaptor of the character stated in which the visible indicia may consist of geometric designsor numbers either printed or otherwise externally applied or formed integrally in raised or depressed relief.

'A further object of this invention is to provide an adaptor of the character stated in which the lower and upper parts thereof are of the same color and in which each different adaptor to be used on a single distributor cap is of a different color whereby to provide a selfindicating color coding for the proper connection of the spark plug wires to the distributor cap.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adaptor of the character stated in which the lower and upper parts are of the same cross-section but in which the cross-sections of successive adaptors may be varied so that when a plurality of successive adaptors are installed in a distributor cap each spark plug wire will fit only with its own adaptor.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adaptor of the character stated that is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufac' ture.

With these and other objects, the nature of which will become apparent, the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the drawings, the accompanying detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, somewhat schematic, longitu dinal section of an adaptor constructed in accordance with this invention and shows the adaptor as installed in a terminal socket of a distributor cap and ready to receive its upper part that has been fitted to one end of a spark plug wire;

FIG. 2 is an exploded elevation of the adaptor and shows one form of visible indicia that may be used in connection therewith;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section similar to FIG. 3 but showing the use of one shape of a different .crosssection that may be used for self-identifying purposes.

Referring to the drawings in detail the invention,'as illustrated, is embodied in a two part adaptor for use with the distributor caps of internal combustion engine systems and includes a lower part generally indicated 5 and an upper part generally indicated 6 both of which are molded or otherwise formed from a non-conductive plastic.

The lower part5 comprises a depending stud 7 of circular cross-section and having a diameter and length for proper reception into and retention by a socket 8 of an associated distributor cap 9. The stud 7 may also be provided with an elastomeric 0" ring 10 to assure a firm fit within the socket 8. The stud 7 terminates at its upper end in an upwardly projecting extension 11 having a cylindrical recess 12 for :reception and retention of the upper part 6 as will be hereinafter more fully described. The bottom of the recess 12 is provided with an electrical contactl3 having a stem 14 extending downwardly through the stud 7 for operative contact with a corresponding rotor contact in the distributor cap 9. This latter contact is schematically indicated by the arrow and legend electric contact in FIG. 1.

The upper part 6 of the adaptor is a cylindrical sleeve having a length corresponding to the depth of the recess 12, an outside diameter for reception into the recess 12 and an inside diameter such as to fit snugly and firmly over a metal tip 15 affixed to the projecting uninsulated end of a spark plug wire 16. An internal ring 17 may be provided to assure retention on the spark plug wire and an external 0" ring 18 may be provided to assure retention within-the recess 12 of the lower part when in use.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, each of the lower and upper parts 5 and 6 is provided on its outer surface with raised indicia 19 which may be in the form of numerals or other identical configurations whereby to visually indicate the matching parts of each two part adaptor. Thus, in accordance with the installed use of the adaptors of this invention, each set thereof at each installed location on a distributor cap will have its own identifying indicia for immediate reference purposes.

Although the indicia 19 have been described as being in raised configuration, it will be understood that they could be of depressed configuration equally as well.

Since one of the objects of this invention is to provide means for separately identifying each separately installed adaptor on a distributor cap, such identification can also be provided through the use of differently cross-sectioned shapes to the exposed portions of the lower and upper parts 5 and 6. For example, and as indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the extension 11 of thelower part 5 may have a square cross-section which would be matched by a complementary cross-section on an external portion of the upper part 6.

Alternatively, for the same purpose of separately identifying each separately installed adaptor, each such installed adaptor may be fabricated from a differently colored material relative to the others of such installed adaptors, thus providing a built-in color code for visually determining which spark plug wire should be connected to which socket of the distributor cap.

it will of course be understood that variations in arrangements and proportions of parts may be made within the scopee of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adaptor for connecting a spark plug wire to a distributor cap comprising: a lower part, said lower part having a depending stud of circular cross-section and having a diameter and length for proper retention by a socket of the distributor cap, a first groove circumferentially cut in said stud, a first "O" ring fitted in said first groove and extending beyond the surface of said stud for enhancing the retentionbf said stud within the socket of the distributor cap, a receiving extension integral with and extending upwardly from said stud, said receiving extension having a recess of circular crosssection, and an electrical conductor having a head within said recess and a stem extending coaxially through and beyond the end of said stud; and an upper part, having a cylindrical sleeve, at least a first portion of said sleeve having a length corresponding to the length of the recess of said receiving extension an outside diameter for reception into the recess of said receiving extension and an inside diameter a sufficient size to snugly accept a spark plug wire, a second groove circumferentially cut in said first portion of said cylindrical sleeve, a second 0" ring fitted in said second groove and extending beyond the outer surface of said first portion of said cylindrical sleeve for enhancing the retention of said cylindrical sleeve within the recess of said receiving extension, and said cylindrical sleeve having a second portion integral with said first portion and extending beyond the recess of said receiving extension; the cross-section of said second portion being geometrically similar to the cross-section of said extension. 

1. An adaptor for connecting a spark plug wire to a distributor cap comprising: a lower part, said lower part having a depending stud of circular cross-section and having a diameter and length for proper retention by a socket of the distributor cap, a first groove circumferentially cut in said stud, a first ''''O'''' ring fitted in said first groove and extending beyond the surface of said stud for enhancing the retention of said stud within the socket of the distributor cap, a receiving extension integral with and extending upwardly from said stud, said receiving extension having a recess of circular cross-section, and an electrical conductor having a head within said recess and a stem extending coaxially through and beyond the end of said stud; and an upper part, having a cylindrical sleeve, at least a first portion of said sleeve having a length corresponding to the length of the recess of said receiving extension an outside diameter for reception into the recess of said receiving extension and an inside diameter a sufficient size to snugly accept a spark plug wire, a second groove circumferentially cut in said first portion of said cylindrical sleeve, a second ''''O'''' ring fitted in said second groove and extending beyond the outer surface of said first portion of said cylindrical sleeve for enhancing the retention of said cylindrical sleeve within the recess of said receiving extension, and said cylindrical sleeve having a second portion integral with said first portion and extending beyond the recess of said receiving extension; the cross-section of said second portion being geometrically similar to the cross-section of said extension. 